Design and Technology A Level advice please

[kidstaxidriver]

DS wants to do A level geography and PE. He was initially keen on maths or biology, but has since been put off by recent mocks and is now more ambivalent. He’s suggested DT as a 3rd choice (he does do GCSE and is predicted a 7). Does anyone have any experience of DT A’ level please? How would it sit with Geog and PE? He is keen to pursue a sports course at Uni. Thanks

Hi there!
He would be much better placed with a biology Alevel.
Not only would it be immensely more helpful for getting a uni place on any sports degree, it would be useful in the subject knowledge he would gain.
Biology a level would help PE alevel and visa versa.
I have worked in secondary schools for 16y and was a sixth form tutor for 5 years working closely with heads of sixth form on guiding my tutees
Good luck to him x x

Thank you

Yes I agree, another science would be helpful for a sports science course at uni. Geography is often counted as a science but not by every uni, for every course. Biology will really support PE. My ds2 in yr 13 does biology and PE - and maths actually - and has found a good correlation between the two.

A mate of DS's does DT A level and is very very clever at the practical/electronics side (built his own computer kind of lad) but he has been disappointed with the DT A level I believe (not sure on any detail there, just a comment he made)

My son did PE, Geography and Biology for a sports degree. There is a large correlation between the A level content of Biology and PE which would be very useful.

You could also look up the sports degrees at universities and look at the suggested A levels which you will see will mention Biology and more likely maths but not DT.

DT A level really has no relation to a sports degree unless he wants to do a course like the Sports Technology degree at Loughborough which combines Sport and designing the products used in sport.

The only other thing to consider is how much he actually enjoys DT as in my experience a lot of students change their minds as to what they want to do.

Thanks for all the help and advice. You’ve all echoed my thoughts. A bit more info.......
Part of the difficulty is that his school insist on an 8/9 at GCSE to study Biology and Maths at A level, I presume in order to secure a good grade. He’s predicted 7 for Bio and a possible 8 for Maths. Goodness knows without exams what he would really get. Plus he’s v interested in human biology, due to the obvious links with PE, but not plants!
Interestingly Exeter list DT as a science for their sports science course but I agree, unless you’re into the technology side of sport, it might bear little relevance.
Do A level Biology and Maths become incredibly tricky if you’re working at a GCSE grade 7?

Which subject is he more likely to get a good grade in?

A Level Maths is really hard and many kids become unstuck very quickly. Biology also isn't an easy option.

I'm not saying DT is easy but an A or a B in DT is of much more use in getting onto a good course than a C or D in Maths/Biology (regardless of relevance)

DT is a lot of work -as are all A levels - but the writing up of the physical project seems disproportionately time heavy.

The making of the item is a relatively small part of the overall A level.

If your DS is set on studying Sports science has he considered the Sports and Science BTEC? Looking at their website it’s accepted by Exeter uni, and DD has a friend studying the subject at Durham uni having done the BTEC instead of A-levels.

The BTEC is very highly regarded at unis for sports science. A local boy has just gone to Loughborough to do sport science after getting Distinction in his BTEC.

Many thanks - yes, we have considered it but unfortunately it’s not available at the school. Definitely a great option though!

DS did DT at A level (well, product design) with maths and physics-got 3 As and now at a RG doing maths. It was his favourite A level!

DS studied Biology, DT and Geography at A level. He found DT interesting but it is time-consuming, I proof-read his AS and A2 projects and it seemed to be pages and pages of repetition, lots of drawing and sourcing of images from the internet. Then he had to actually construct the projects. Biology is not an easy option either but I think the combination of Biology, Geography and PE would be a better one for your son.

I would echo the above in terms of doing Biology over DT if he wants to do sports science. DS is doing maths, further maths, physics and DT but wants to do Engineering or Product Design at university. He really enjoys the 'lab' time and the making, but there is a HUGE amount of portfolio stuff which as PPs have said, is very time consuming and fairly repetitive.....

I'm a DT teacher. Many of the A'level students I have taught have also studied PE. I thought it an odd combination many, many years ago but began to realise the subjects appeal to doers, kinaesthetic learners if you like. I think it more important to do A' levels that you would enjoy rather than thinking too far into the future.

Thank you so much for all your really useful comments and advice, it is really appreciated. We are speaking with the DT teacher this week as well as the other subject teachers. It is so difficult deciding A levels when his year have not had any proper exams since summer 2019! They have been at home for exams last summer and for mocks. Now the iGCSEs have gone too, it’s a real shame as this would have really aided decision making.